Defining Trauma

Today we’re going to dive into something essential that often gets overlooked: defining trauma.

The concept of trauma has been getting a lot of buzz-worthy fame but isn’t usually well explained by pop culture or the media.

TV show characters might joke “What’s your trauma?” Or “That was sooo traumatic!”

Sometimes it's not named at all, which can be even more problematic.

When I meet with a new therapy client, I alway ask about their trauma history.

Before evaluating specifics, I might literally start with a broad question like,

“Have you experienced any trauma?”

To some, this seems silly. Some people might think,

“Um, hello!!! Yes, Hannah. I have trauma. Duh, that is why I am here, in therapy.”

Yet for many, this broad question can be really confusing.

Trauma is a big term, with a lot of different explanations.

Today I am going to break down the general definition of trauma and how it shows up.

In the next few weeks, I am going to get more detailed and discuss variations of trauma; singular traumatic events (e.g. natural disaster or terrorist attack) compared to ongoing traumas (emotional abuse or micro-aggressions), etc.

Genuinely understanding what trauma really is and how it’s impacting you can be your golden ticket to healing and feeling joyful.

So, generally speaking, what is trauma?

Major threats or harm to you or your loved ones.
Seeing your home or community fall apart.
Directly witnessing someone get seriously hurt or worse.

Trauma can sneak up on you from all sorts of places, like:

Accidents and falls.
Serious illnesses.
Surgeries
Invasive medical exams (I work with many folks who avoid going to the Dentist or Gynecologist)
Childbirth

Even when you know a procedure is necessary and you’re out cold on the table, your body’s like, "What’s happening?! Are we in danger?!"

Dr. Peter Levine nails it in his book Waking the Tiger:

"Even though a person may recognize the operation is necessary, and despite the fact that they are unconscious as the surgeon cuts through flesh, muscle, and bone, it still registers in the body as a life-threatening event. On the cellular level, the body perceives it has sustained a wound serious enough to place it in mortal danger." (Levine, p.54)

Understanding if you've experienced trauma can be vital for our healing journey.

If you recognize any of these experiences in your life, know that your automatic reactions (fight/flight/freeze/collapse/attach) are valid and that your body is responding naturally to perceived threats.

Most humans experience trauma, it's just genuinely a matter of what, when, and how often.

Just because you experience trauma does not mean you will develop PTSD (more on that in a future email).

How we respond to trauma, both automatically and intentionally, can be determined by a bunch of different factors I won't fully get into here (because this email will be long enough), but can essentially be summed up by saying: age, time, location, social support, and resources all go into play.

What is magical about therapy is that, with the right support, brains and bodies can change and heal. You don't have to be defined by your trauma anymore.

When you were little, you might have frozen. Most kiddos do.